Hero Express journalist Geoff Ho reveals what saved his life in London Bridge attack
LONDON Bridge terror hero Geoff Ho, who was stabbed in the throat as he fought with the trio of attackers, sent a message of defiance and reconciliation from his hospital bed last night.
“London stay strong, let the healing begin,” the Sunday Express business editor urged.
“The people who attacked me were not representative of Islam and my Muslim friends – with whom I stand in solidarity.”
Geoff – seen covered in blood being led away by the emergency services – puts his survival and that of those he defended down to his martial arts expertise.
“It was the knife work we do in training that saved my life. They just came at me with blades. Then I saw the ‘suicide vests’. They were animals.”
Now recovering in the Royal London Hospital after surgery, his main concern is “for the bereaved or those whose loved ones are injured or still missing”.
He recalled Saturday’s events in his regular haunt, Borough Market.
“I had just left the Wheatsheaf pub after watching the Champions’ League final and saw two people attacking the lone bouncer.
“They weren’t armed and I held them off until the police arrived. I thought ‘job done, now for some beer and food’.”
He headed five doors down to the Black & Blue restaurant, then minutes after he posted a “not on my watch” message on Facebook about the bouncer incident, the terrorists arrived.
“Most of my friends and the staff hid under tables, but one was frozen behind me,” he said. “I knew I had to face the attackers down. I had the best chance of delaying them until the police arrived.
“I had to shield my friends and the people there. Then I noticed the suicide vests and tried to slow them before they struck.”
In the mayhem Geoff, a Man United fan, noticed one of his attackers wore an Arsenal shirt.
“The bastard came at me first,” he said. “I think I got a hit in, but either he or his accomplice got me with a knife to the throat.
“They got my friend behind me, stabbing him in the face and hands and ran off. I bundled him into the storeroom, called the police and within moments they arrived. I gave them descriptions and we were evacuated.”
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His mum Kim praised his bravery last night: “He is a decent human being who stood up to animals – in fact animals is too kind a word for them.
“It is wonderful our son has so many friends – on and off social media. We know it’s their love that is helping him get better so quickly.”
Geoff has urged people to donate to a fund for the British Red Cross and London Air Ambulance at www.gofundme.com/geoff-ho-hero-fundraiser